Time to drop Harding and Puncheon

[Saint Fan CaM]

One thing about Puncheon that most seem not to recognise is that Lallana (and others) plays better with him in the team - there is more balance to the team. As for Harding, I fail to see how he has performed any worse than many other players in the team, so removing him now for no good reason would be daft. Consistency in defence gives us the opportunity to win games of football - (where have I heard that before?!?).

[Viking Warrior]

Adkins will only drop players if they are not performing , injured etc.

He clearly sees something in Puncheon and Harding they one or two on here do not see , thats why he keeps playing them

 

Why is it season after season , there are fans who constantly wanting to have a go at a play. do you get some perverse satisfaction for calling for the head of a player

a couple of weeks ago even this week someone said Lambert was not fit to wear the shirt and should be dropped.

I never heard that when Micky channon , Ron Davies or MLT had a poor run of form

 

Get behind the team

[Charlie Wayman]

There's no room for passengers nowadays, every player counts, every kick counts, the stakes are very much higher than in those days when players could drift in and out of games and not be noticed. Now with empahasis on holding shape and attacking in groups and TV replays highlighting glaring errors there is no room for error or to hide.

[shurlock]

I would say that Puncheon & Harding just don't work effectively together as a left side pairing - just my opinion but looking at their mutual body language I don't think there's any real understanding or rapport between them. Naturally playing JP on the right side solves that problem easily enough. The odd mistake aside (no one's perfect) Dan Harding has been a outstanding success here.

 

They rarely play together anyway - while Adkins occassionally switches our wide midfielders for the most Punch stays on the right.

[pele]

Viking .......if you read my original comment in no way am I having a go, but suggesting that at present we might have better playing in the reserves at the moment! Healthy debate not slagging!

Edited 2 November, 2010 by pele

[Viking Warrior]

Pele

 

I was not having a go it you . it was in general and we seem to have this annual ritual of slagging off players. {Point I was making is that if the manager thought either harding . lambert puncheon et al was not performing to what he needs as

a team tctically or otherwise I am sure he would drop them. but at this stage the are carrying out the role the manager wants. Im no football coach but a good hockey coach and I get my players to play in a certain way depending on the opposition

I start with what is my strongest line up for the tactics I have chosen and then if it is not working . I change tactics by initially tweaking positional play. if that dosent work then I make subs. Im sure thats how adkins is managing the team

 

I just get a little frustrated when someone is constantly having a pop at players

[LostBoys]

I do not think you can blame Harding for Puncheons poor form but I accept that it is working the other way round.

[JustMike]

I wouldnt drop either of them at the moment. Harding is solid and reliable can cross and pass, seems to work well with AL too. Puncheon hasnt been scoring but he still is a handfull to the oppo, just watch how many times teams double up on him.

[saints-cris]

If Jason Puncheon is starting to feel the pressure of Alex Chamberlain maybe taking his place off him then that is actually a good thing. All our players (irrespective of their reputation) should feel the heat of competition for their place - I include the likes Ricky Lambert, Kelvin Davies & Dean Hammond in that.

Spot on. I'm pretty sure Hammond was feeling the pressure after a few lame performances and he really turned it around with some great performances.

 

As for Harding, seems very out of the blue. Every time I've seen him he has played really well. I wouldn't swap him for any left back in the league.

[pele]

Adkins in my mind is doing a great job, talks a lot of sense and has got the team performing. I still am of the opinion that Harding and Puncheon aren't firing on all cylinders (nor was Ricky.....but slowly and surely he is getting there.) Is a rest better than trying to play through a duff period and get yourself up to acceptable standards (when we have great alternatives on the bench and in the reserves)...I don't know.....then again I am not Manager of Saints....even though like many others on here, we think we are!!!

[skintsaint]

dont change a winning team!! (unless injured/suspended)

[patred44]

Seabourne was SUPPOSED have been on the left side of Fonte.... Adkins defends corners with a zonal marking system...

defending a corner from the left the 6 six yd box has always been

 

1 Harding 2 Seabourne 3 Fonte 4 Richy(on this occasion)

 

somehow Seabourne got the wrong side of Fonte and wasn't available to cut out any high ball played into the near post.

 

Now if that was changed Seabourne is not at fault.... but by Fonte's reaction to him after the ball hit the net, Fonte fully expected him to be there, and Harding was giving him daggers as well.

 

It was an absolute mess. Discipline at defending corners is essential

 

If you look at all the other Notts C corners Seabourne is there, in the right place... bolting stable doors after the horse has gone.

Edited 2 November, 2010 by patred44

[pele]

Told you I was right about Oxo, maybe not about Harding! Good to see Adkins with brave shouts re; Chaplow and Oxo......spot on decisions!

[pele]

Good to see Adkins taking my advice!!! Fantastic to see team playing so well!

[Nadia Sllim]

was Harding dropped?

[S-Clarke]

he was subbed in the last game due to an injury, so he was probably injured y/day.

[pele]

He is dropped now!